InterContinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge - Eastern Edition

Announcing the first-ever global ChessKid.com tournament

that's recognized by the World Chess Federation, FIDE!

The first-ever Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge will take place January 23, 2021 and is open to any child aged 12 and below (as of Jan 21, 2021) on Earth or in any place in the Milky Way galaxy!

 The event will take place entirely on the ChessKid live server with fantastic prizes, including:

• Group lessons with Grandmasters GMHumpy Konery, GM Vishy Anand, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, and other former world champions and top-rated grandmasters! (ChessKid reserves the right to change teachers based on languages of the winners, time zones, and other factors).

To best accommodate as many time zones as possible, there will be two distinct tournaments, both taking place on January 23, 2021.

Children are eligible to play in either one, or both, whichever is more convenient for you.

• The first "Eastern" edition will begin January 23, 2021 at 9am UK/10am CET/2:30pm India/8:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (Sydney). Note: On the registration, this is the 4 am EST edition.
• The second "Western" edition will begin January 23, 2021 at 9am Pacific/12pm Eastern/5pm UK/6pm CET.

Both will have fun and insightful commentary on Chess.com/TV with FM FunMasterMike and other famous chess commentators and guests.

Every single kid aged 12 and under on all seven continents is eligible to join. Although we don't know if there are any 10-year-old scientists living at the South Pole for winter, if your internet connection is decent, you can play, too! For those living on Mars by then, please add about 15 minutes to each time for radio signals to get back and forth. For Pluto, add 4.5 hours.

The time control will be 10+2 (10 minutes starting time plus 2 seconds added per move) and each of the two editions will be 7 rounds. The expected length for each tournament is three hours.

Each of the two editions will be played in two sections: 12 and Under and 8 and Under. Ages are as of January 1, 2021. ChessKid and FIDE reserve the right to ask for proof of age upon qualification for any prize.

There will be an Eastern edition warmup event on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 9am UK/10am CET/2:30pm India/8:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (Sydney). Note: On the registration, this is the 4 am EST. It  is highly encouraged for kids to play and practice using the site. This tournament will be 5 rounds of 5+1 and will only take one hour. (There are no prizes -- the intention is to test your computer, internet, and get used to registering and playing in an event.) Registration before January 10, 2021 is highly encouraged so that you are eligible to play in the warmup event on January 16.

The Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge will be focused mostly on participation and fun, but of course who doesn't like prizes? As such, the top prizes will be awarded in a unique way to take pressure off of kids.

PRIZES

In the spirit of participation, every child will have a chance to win prizes!

For every half point earned, a player receives one "raffle ticket" into a drawing. For every win, a ChessKid receives two "raffle tickets" into a drawing. In addition, any player finishing the tournament receives a bonus raffle ticket.

For example, a player finishing with 4.5/7 receives 9+1=10 raffle tickets. A player with 6.0/7 receives 12+1=13 raffle tickets. 

Upon the conclusion of each tournament, raffle tickets will be drawn for these prizes:

• 1 Grand Prize per section: A game of your choice from the tournament made into an official animated ChessKid video with FunMasterMike (1 kid per section in each tournament, so 4 kids total). Each winner will also receive a one-year gold membership to ChessKid. 
• 10 Featured Prizes per section: A mini-camp invitation with an elite grandmaster (10 winners per section in each tournament, so 40 kids total). Each winner will also receive a one-year gold membership to ChessKid. The mini-camps will be about two hours and will be scheduled after the tournament ends to best accommodate the time zones, languages, and schedules of the winners.
• 10 Premium Prizes per section: One year gold membership or membership extension to ChessKid (10 winners per section in each tournament, so 40 kids total).
• In addition, every ChessKid competing will receive an official certificate of tournament completion, and also two months free gold membership to ChessKid (a $20 value).

The drawings for both events will take place on January 28, 2021 and winners will be informed via their email address on file. You may only win one prize, so once you win any prize, you are not eligible for a second prize. 

REGISTRATION

• The "early registration" fee is $25USD if received on or before January 10, 2021 at 11:59pm Pacific U.S. time.
• Registration from January 11-January 16, 2021 is $35USD. Registrations from January 17-January 20, 2021 is $50USD. There will be no registrations accepted after 11:59pm Pacific U.S. time on January 19, 2021.
• Upon registering, ChessKid will create a unique username for you to use in this event. This username will also have the free two-months of premium (gold) ChessKid membership attached to it. 
• If your child wishes to play in both events, you may simply register twice, once in each event (note that he/she will get two different login usernames, one for each event).
• No Bye Requests for this tournament allowed.
• There will be a warmup event on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 9am UK/10am CET/2:30pm India/8:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (Sydney). Note: On the registration, this is 4 am EST. It  is highly encouraged for kids to play and practice using the site. This tournament will be 5 rounds of 5+1 and will only take one hour. (There are no prizes -- the intention is to test your computer, internet, and get used to registering and playing in an event.) Registration before January 10, 2021 is highly encouraged so that you are eligible to play in the warmup event on January 16.

FAIR PLAY

ChessKid and FIDE expect that all children and their families will abide by the rules governing fair play. Both the child and the parent/guardian will have to agree to our fair play policies when registering for the event.

This is what will be agreed to upon registering for the event:

• ChessKid and FIDE will run this event with the highest level of integrity and ethics. All players must play fairly and use good sportsmanship.
• We strictly forbid cheating of all kinds. ChessKid will use its own algorithms to monitor games and also will manually analyze select games at its discretion.
• All of your moves must be your own. You will not get help from anyone or anything else, including coaches, friends, parents, chess engines, or any other software of any kind.
• You will also not have a phone, tablet, or any other electronic device in the same room.
• You are only allowed to have one browser tab open and no other programs running on your computer. Violating this rule is a “technical forfeiture” and you will be disqualified, with no chance at prizes.
• You agree that ChessKid will make the final determination on any fair play issue. FIDE will make the final decision on any player penalties, including forfeiture or removal.
• If you violate the ChessKid Fair Play Policy, then ChessKid will close your account and label it as having violated the Fair Play Policy.
• If you are not willing to agree to the above policies, you will not be allowed to play in the event.

Good luck to everyone and we hope kids from all over the world enjoy the Challenge!